16 Summer-Ready Place Setting Ideas

Summer just seems to be the perfect time to entertain. The flowers are in bloom, maybe your kitchen garden is overflowing, and you can send the kids out into the backyard to play. Whenever we’re entertaining, we like to add a little flourish to the table to make guests feel extra special. Even if you’re having a casual meal, a little forethought a few days in advance is all you need. Here are some of our favorite summer place setting ideas that feel bright, festive, and simple enough to pull together on busy days.

Simple, Pastel Palette

We brought together apricot and robin’s egg blue for a light and happy color palette that beautifully complements colorful summer cooking.

Surefire Stripes

We love a stripe, but our favorite part of this table runner is the fact that it’s made from Sunbrella fabric, so it’s hardwearing, fade resistant, and can stand up to serious spills. Now let’s get cooking!

Navy is Neutral

We like to think of navy blue as a neutral since it pairs so beautifully with so many colors, like citron table linens. This pretty color palette creates a stunning table, appropriate for spring and summer entertaining.

Chinoiserie Chic

We used our chinoiserie placemats with a solid white linen table runner and neutral table linens. The best part about these placemats? They’re wipeable! No spot treating or ironing for you after the tables are cleared.

Caroline lives for pairing together patterns, mixing furniture styles, and oogling over our newest furniture pieces. As you can imagine, her little 1920's craftsman is in a constant state of flux. Here on How to Decorate, it's her goal to help you turn your home into your own little slice of paradise.